Astana Team Wins Youth Hockey Tournament in Canada
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Astana Team claimed victory at the 2026 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Canada, winning the AA Elite division, the second-highest tier of the competition, reported the Kazakhstan Hockey Federation’s press service on Feb. 23.

Astana Team. Photo credit: Kazakhstan Hockey Federation.

According to Presidential Press Secretary Aibek Smadiyarov, President Kassym-Jomart…
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Addiction to Games: Silent Mental Health Crisis
Gambling looks harmless enough. A spin of the wheel or a quick bet on a football game appear to be harmless entertainment. However in Kazakhstan, this game is becoming a silent threat. Ludomania, or gambling addiction, is on the rise as online casinos and betting apps become more popular. Families are falling apart, bank…
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RES 2026 to Shape Next Phase of North Aral Sea Restoration
ASTANA — The next chapter of the North Aral Sea’s recovery will be defined not only by engineering works on the ground, but by high-level negotiations in Astana. The Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026, scheduled for April 22–24, is set to elevate the restoration agenda to an international platform, gathering more than 1,500 participants,…
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Lufthansa Resumes Kazakhstan Flights in March
ALMATY – Germany’s carrier Lufthansa will resume regular flights to Kazakhstan starting March 29, restoring connections to Almaty and Astana from Frankfurt am Main, reported the company’s press service.

Photo credit: Lufthansa Group.

The airline will operate five weekly flights to Almaty and four weekly flights to Astana. According to the airline, flights will…
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Four Kazakh Tennis Players Break into World Top 10 Rankings
ALMATY – For the first time in the history of Kazakh tennis, four representatives of the country have simultaneously entered the top 10 of the world rankings, highlighting the steady progress of Kazakhstan’s tennis school and the systematic development of the sport, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation on Feb. 23.

From L to R:…
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Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Remains Stable Amid Narrowing Surplus
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover remained broadly stable in 2025, increasing by 1.3% to reach $143.9 billion, according to the analytical report released by the Kazakh Association of Financiers on Feb. 23.

Photo credit: Kazakh Association of Financiers.

According to analysts, exports decreased by 3.2% over the year, while imports grew by 7.4%.…
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From Declarations to Corridors: Rethinking Economic Integration In Central Asia
For more than three decades, economic integration in Central Asia has been shaped by ambitious declarations, multilateral communiqués, and periodic summit diplomacy. Yet tangible outcomes have often lagged behind political rhetoric. The emerging shift from abstract integration models toward corridor-based, infrastructure-driven cooperation marks a potentially decisive turning point. Recent developments between Kazakhstan and…
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Registration Opens for Regional Ecological Summit 2026
ALMATY – Registration has officially opened for the Regional Ecological Summit (RES 2026), with participants and guests now able to register through the event’s official website, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported.

Photo credit: RES

The summit will take place on April 22–24 in Astana, bringing together Central Asian countries to foster…
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Global Demand Reshapes Kazakhstan’s Copper Exports
ASTANA — Kazakhstan produced 471,000 tons of refined copper in 2025, according to the Bureau of National Statistics, as rising global demand for copper reinforces its strategic importance for energy and industrial development and reshapes the country’s priorities.

Kazakhstan produced 471,000 tons of refined copper in 2025. Photo credit: energyprom.kz

Refined copper, a high-purity…
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Serbian President Vučić to Pay Official Visit to Kazakhstan This Week
ASTANA – President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on Feb. 26-27 at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with Aleksandar Vučić, November 2024. Photo credit: Akorda

During the visit, the two Presidents will hold full-format high-level talks, reported Akorda.

The Presidents are expected to discuss the…
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Kazakhstan Launches Development of Civil Aviation Master Plan with ICAO
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has begun developing a Civil Aviation Master Plan (CAMP) for the period through 2050 in cooperation with experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Kazakh Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev met on Feb. 24 with ICAO project coordinator Louise Stols to formally launch work on the strategic document.

Photo credit:…
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Kazakhstan Advances Admissions Reform Through Partnership with Global Research Institute
ASTANA — Kazakhstan announced plans to modernize its university admissions system with Princeton-based ETS education organization. The partnership seeks to develop the Admissions Insight Test (AIT) aimed at aligning higher education with the demands of an AI-driven global economy.

Photo credit: primeminister.kz.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the National Testing Center and…
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Olympic Champion Mikhail Shaidorov Welcomed with Honors in Astana
ASTANA – Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov received a ceremonial welcome at Astana airport on Feb. 25, greeted by fans, sports officials, and fellow athletes.

Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov is greeted by fans and sports officials upon his arrival at Astana airport on Feb. 25. Photo credit: NOC

“I would like…
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Tokayev Honors Olympic Champion Mikhail Shaidorov
ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented state awards to Olympic gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov and his coaching team on Feb. 25, praising the figure skater’s historic triumph at the 25th Winter Olympic Games as a milestone for Kazakhstan’s national sports history.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awards Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov during a ceremony at the…
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Government Allocates Over $2 Million for Caspian Sea Monitoring
ASTANA – The government of Kazakhstan has allocated 1.1 billion tenge (US$2.2 million) from its reserve fund to strengthen scientific research and environmental monitoring of the Caspian Sea.

Photo credit: primeminister.kz Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times.

The funds will be directed to the…
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Kyrgyz National Bank Raises Key Rate to 12%
ASTANA — The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic raised its policy rate by 100 basis points to 12% on Feb. 23. The decision took effect on Feb. 24.

Photo credit: kyrgyzbank

The bank cited an uneven external economic environment and elevated inflation in major trading partners, noting that domestic prices remain sensitive due…
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